Firing module

ABSTRACT

A firing module having a fully automatic shell supply mechanism for supplying shells to a heavy weapon in a housing. A shell ram having a loading tray is disposed on a free end of a shell transfer arm that is pivotable between a raised position, in which the loading tray is aligned with the gun bore axis, parallel to a plane of elevation, and a lowered position, in which the tray is essentially vertical. A gripping mechanism on a shell transport arm grasps a vertical shell stored in at least one ammunition magazine for supplying a shell from a shell transporter, to the loading tray, in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm. The ammunition magazines and transporter are disposed in the housing ahead of a trunnion. The loading tray is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is essentially vertical in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm, by at least 180° between a receiving position opening ahead of the trunnion, and a delivery position opening behind the trunnion. At least one propellant charge magazine is disposed in the housing next to or behind the trunnion. A fully automatic propellant charge supply mechanism is disposed in the housing for supplying propellant charges to the weapon, and has a propellant charge supply tray pivotable into a region behind the weapon and in alignment with the gun bore axis.

This specification for the instant application should be granted thepriority date of Dec. 13, 2002, the filing date of the correspondingGerman patent application 102 58 263.7 along with the priority date ofNov. 8, 2003, the filing date of the International Patent ApplicationPCT/DE203/003708.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a firing module having a housing thatcan be mounted on a carrier structure so as to be rotatable in azimuthand in which a heavy weapon is mounted so as to be pivotable inelevation about a trunnion, whereby shells are supplied to the weaponvia a shell supply mechanism that operates fully automatically and thatis provided with a shell transfer arm that is pivotably mounted on thetrunnion and on the free end of which is disposed a shell ram having aloading tray and that is pivotable out of a raised position, in whichthe loading tray is aligned with the gun bore axis of the weapon,parallel to the plane of elevation, into a lowered position, in whichthe loading tray is essentially vertical, as well as a shell transporterhaving a transport arm that on its free end is provided with a grippingmechanism for grasping a respective shell that is vertically stored inan ammunition magazine, tip pointing upwardly, and for supplying theshell from the shell transporter, to the loading tray, in the loweredposition of the shell transfer arm.

A device of this type, in an embodiment as an armored howitzer, isdescribed in European patent EP 0 331 980 B1.

With the known armored howitzer, the housing is embodied as a rotatableturret on which the heavy weapon is disposed. The turret, which isrotatable in azimuth, rests upon a carrier structure that is embodied asa tracked vehicle. With the known device, the ammunition magazines aredisposed below the rotary bearing in the hull of the carrier vehicle,and the shells are grasped by the shell transporter and initiallydeposited in a transport rail that is also disposed in the vehicle hulland is initially horizontal. The transport rail moves the respectiveshell linearly and rotates about the vertical axis to adjust the variouspossible turret positions relative to the undercarriage. After reachingthe turret position, the transport rail raises the horizontal shell intoa vertical position and transfers it into the loading tray of the ram.The shell transfer arm is then pivoted upwardly about the trunnion axisuntil the loading tray of the shell ram is aligned with the gun boreaxis of the weapon. With the known device, the propellant charges aremanually supplied to the weapon.

It is an object of the invention to embody a firing module of theaforementioned type in such a way that a considerable saving ininstallation space, especially overall height, and in weight areachieved, and furthermore that the construction of the shell supplymechanism is simplified. The firing operation should be fully automatic,so that it could, for example, also be carried out from a commandstation externally of the firing module itself, and the firing moduleshould have many applications, i.e. it should be possible for thecarrier structure to be not only a tracked vehicle but also a wheeledvehicle for roads or rails, and also a fixed structure or even a ship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The realization of this object is inventively effected in that thefiring module has the following features:

-   -   a) at least one ammunition magazine as well as the shell        transporter are disposed in the housing ahead of the trunnion;    -   b) the loading tray, on the shell transfer arm, is pivotable        about a pivot axis, which in the lowered position of the shell        transfer arm is essentially vertical, by at least 180° between a        receiving position, which opens to the region ahead of the        trunnion, and a delivery position, which opens to the region        behind the trunnion;    -   c) at least one propellant charge magazine is disposed in the        housing in the region next to or behind the trunnion;    -   d) propellant charges are supplied to the weapon via a        propellant charge supply mechanism that is disposed in the        housing, operates fully automatically, and is provided with a        propellant charge supply tray that has a propellant charge ram        and is pivotable into the region behind the weapon and in        alignment with the gun bore axis of the weapon.

Advantageous further developments of the invention will be describedsubsequently.

The basic concept of the invention is to dispose not only the ammunitionmagazines but also the fully automatically operating shell supplymechanism in the same housing above a rotary bearing, in which housingadditionally all of the propellant charge magazines as well as a fullyautomatically operating propellant charge supply mechanism areaccommodated. In this connection, there is effected a clear separationof the ammunition magazines from the propellant charge magazines and theshell supply mechanism from the propellant charge supply mechanism. Inso doing, there result very short paths for the transfer not only of theshells but also of the propellant charges to the weapon, which enables ahigh firing sequence frequency.

Weapon, shell transfer arm and the ammunition magazine with the shelltransporter thus form a unit, the firing module, that is disposed abovethe rotary bearing. The transport rail that is required with the knowndevice is eliminated, thus simplifying the shell supply mechanism andreducing the weight. Due to the elimination of the transport rail, theoverall height of the firing module is also reduced. To enable a fullyautomatic firing operation, the shell supply mechanism is supplementedwith a propellant charge supply mechanism that operates fullyautomatically.

The inventive firing module permits a separation of the gun operatingpersonnel from the weapon, aiming mechanism, shell supply mechanism,propellant charge supply mechanism, and the ammunition. In so doing, theballistic protective structure that is present with the known device islimited to the protective space of the personnel, and hence of thecommand station.

With this measure, the overall weight of a gun that comprises a slightlyprotected firing module and an optimally protected command station, canbe brought to a weight, while extensively maintaining the other guncharacteristics (firing power, range, cadence, automation), that enablesair transport with smaller and middle sized transport aircraft.

The full automation furthermore permits the reduction of operatingpersonnel, which again leads to a reduced danger to personnel during useand in peacetime operation.

By separating operating personnel and the firing module, the number ofpersonnel can be reduced to a minimum, and the personnel can beprotected with an optimal ballistic protective structure. Furthermore,the overall weight of the gun is minimized.

Furthermore, the separation of personnel and firing module in the mannerdescribed permits new loadingconcepts, since space can be utilized thatup to now had to be kept free for the gun operating personnel. Highervoltages can be used for the electrical drives, and hence weight andcost reductions and/or increases in power are achieved. Furthermore, theexpense for air conditioning and ABC protection ventilation is less,since now only a relatively small command station space has to beassessed. Improvement of the protection of the personnel is achieved bythe spatial separation and partitioning by bulkheads from the ammunitionthat is taken along and from weapon aiming and loading movements.

With the inventive firing module, the firing operation can be carriedout fully automatically, and it can be operated from a locationexternally of the housing, in other words, for example, even from acommand station set up in the countryside or from the driver's cab of acarrier vehicle. As will be described in greater detail subsequentlywith the aid of specific embodiments, the propellant charge magazinesand the propellant charge supply mechanism can be embodied in such a waythat variously sized propellant charges can be freely selected andsupplied. A particularly rapid availability of the propellant charges isachieved, if, as described below, two propellant charge magazines thatare independent of one another, and two propellant charge supplymechanisms, are disposed in the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments for an inventive firing module are explained indetail in the following with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1 in a partially sectioned side view, a firing module in a carriervehicle embodied as a tracked vehicle;

FIG. 2 in a partial illustration analogous to FIG. 1, the firing moduleof FIG. 1 with further details;

FIG. 3 the firing module of FIG. 1 in a partially sectioned rear view;

FIG. 4 a rear view of a propellant charge magazine of the firing moduleof FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 a side view of the firing module of FIGS. 1 to 4 in a positionrotated on the carrier vehicle by 180° in azimuth, and with the weaponraised;

FIG. 6 the firing module of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a partially sectioned viewfrom above;

FIG. 7 a variation of the firing module of FIGS. 1 to 6 in a partiallysectioned rear view with propellant charge magazines embodied as bandmagazines;

FIG. 8 a further embodiment of the firing module in a partiallysectioned side view with propellant charge magazines fixedly disposed onthe weapon;

FIG. 9 the firing module of FIG. 8 in a partially sectioned view fromabove;

FIG. 10 the firing module of FIGS. 8 and 9 in a partially sectionedenlarged partial illustration, with the weapon raised;

FIG. 11 a further embodiment of the firing module in a partiallysectioned view from above, with ammunition magazines disposed in astar-shaped manner;

FIG. 12 a further embodiment of a firing module in a partially sectionedrear view with propellant charge magazines that are embodied as bandmagazines fixed to the weapon.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The firing module illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 has a housing 1 that ismounted so as to be rotatable in azimuth, via a rotary bearing 2, on thechassis of a carrier vehicle T that is embodied as a tracked motorvehicle.

In the housing 1, a heavy weapon W is supported so as to be pivotable inelevation about a trunnion 3. In the forward portion of the housing 2,in the region ahead of the trunnion 3, on both sides of the longitudinalcentral axis L (FIG. 6) of the housing, two ammunition magazines 4.1 and4.2 are disposed in which are arranged shells 4.11 and 4.21 in avertical orientation with upwardly directed tips. Out of theseammunition magazines 4.1 and 4.2, the shells are conveyed to into regionbehind the weapon W via a shell supply mechanism that operates fullyautomatically. This shell supply mechanism has a shell transfer arm 5that is pivotably mounted on the trunnion 3 and on the rear, free end ofwhich is disposed a loading tray 5.1 of a non-illustrated shell ram. Theshell transfer arm 5 can be pivoted out of a raised, non-illustratedposition, in which the loading tray 5.1 is aligned with the gun boreaxis R of the weapon W, parallel to the elevation plane, into a loweredposition that can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, and in which the loadingtray is oriented essentially vertically, i.e. perpendicular to thehousing base 1.1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the loading tray 5.1is pivotable about a pivot axis 5.3, which is vertically oriented in thelowered position of the shell transfer arm 5, by 180° between areceiving position, which opens to the region ahead of the trunnion 3,and a delivery position, which opens to the region behind the trunnion3. In FIGS. 1 and 3, loading tray, and a shell disposed therein, areillustrated by dotted lines in both positions. The shell supplymechanism is furthermore provided with a shell transporter 6, which isdisposed in the region between the ammunition magazines 4.1 and 4.2. Ina manner known per se, the shell transporter 6 has a transport arm 6.1that is provided on its free end with a gripping mechanism 6.2 that isequipped with two grippers and via which a respective shell 4.11 or4.21, which is stored in one of the ammunition magazines 4.1 or 4.2, isgrasped and is supplied by the shell transporter 6 to the loading tray5.1 in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm 5. The loadingtray 5.1 is then pivoted by 180° about the axis 5.3. The shell transferarm 5 is then pivoted upwardly into the raised position, and the shellis supplied to the weapon W by the shell ram.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, disposed in the region behind thetrunnion 3 are two propellant charge magazines 7.1 and 7.2 that areembodied for receiving modular propellant charges. As can be seen fromthe figures, the propellant charge modules are vertically disposed oneabove the other in compartments 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15 and 7.16from which they are cyclically conveyed upwardly, by non-illustratedconveying devices, and are delivered at the upper end. The propellantcharges are conveyed by a propellant charge supply mechanism, whichoperates entirely automatically, from the magazines to the weapon, andare supplied to the latter. In the illustrated embodiment, thepropellant charge supply mechanism is provided with two propellantcharge transfer arms 8.1 and 8.2 on which are respectively disposed apropellant charge supply tray 8.11 and 8.21 respectively. In thisconnection, the propellant charge supply trays are secured to pivot arms8.12 and 8.22 and are disposed on the propellant charge transfer arm 8.1and 8.2. As can be seen by way of example in FIG. 3, the propellantcharge modules are supplied to the propellant charge supply tray 8.11 or8.21 at the upper end of the propellant charge magazine in a position ofthe pivot arm 8.12 or 8.22 that is pivoted toward the propellant chargemagazine. A respective pivot arm 8.12 or 8.22 is then pivoted inwardlyabout an axis that, possibly after an appropriate pivoting of thepropellant charge transfer arm 8.1 or 8.2, is parallel to the gun boreaxis R of the weapon, until the respective propellant charge supplytray—in FIG. 3 by way of example the propellant charge supply tray8.11—is aligned with the gun bore axis R behind the weapon. In thisposition, the propellant charge modules, via a non-illustratedpropellant charge ram, which can, for example, be embodied as a chainthat is rigid on the top, are supplied to the charge compartment of theweapon W. With this type of supply of the propellant charges, it ispossible to remove from one of the propellant charge magazines 7.1 or7.2 exactly the number of propellant charge modules that are requiredfor the pertaining firing. In the illustrated embodiment, it is possibleto remove from each magazine, for each firing, a maximum of sixpropellant charge modules that are placed together in the propellantcharge supply tray and are supplied together. By providing twoindependent propellant charge magazines 7.1 and 7.2, and two propellantcharge supply mechanisms, it is possible to rapidly make available thepropellant charges behind the weapon.

Due to the precise apportionment of the desired number of propellantcharge modules during the automatic supply, no balance or remainder ofpropellant charge modules remains behind, as is generally the caseduring the manual supply if propellant charge modules are used that arepresent in six packs.

Depending upon the construction of the propellant magazines and thesupply mechanisms, it can also be possible to convey and supplypropellant charges having different lengths.

Since the two propellant charge magazines 7.1 and 7.2 are fixedlyconnected with the housing 1, the propellant charge transfer arms 8.1and 8.2 serve for the reliable supply in varying elevational positionsof the weapon W.

The described firing module is extremely variable with respect to thearrangement and configuration of the ammunition magazines and thepropellant charge magazines.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the propellant charge magazines 17.1and 17.2 are again fixedly disposed in the housing 1, but are embodiednot as compartment magazines but rather as band magazines. Here also thepropellant charge modules are supplied to propellant charge supply trays18.11 and 18.21, which, in the manner already described, can be pivotedrearwardly behind the weapon out of the region of the propellant chargemagazines. In the remaining respects, the embodiment of FIG. 7 isembodied exactly as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show an embodiment of the firing module where thepropellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2, which are embodied ascompartment magazines, are fixedly connected not with the housing 1, butrather with the weapon W, and thus execute along with the weapon thepivoting movement during the elevation. As a result, the propellantcharge modules, which are supplied to the propellant charge supply trays28.1 and 28.2 from the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2, arealready disposed at the correct elevational angle and need only to bepivoted inwardly behind the weapon by a device that corresponds to thepivot arms 8.12 and 8.22 from FIG. 3. Propellant charge transfer armsare not required with this embodiment. Rather, the propellant chargesfrom the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and 27.2 are initiallyrespectively supplied to an apportioning station 27.11 or 27.21, and arethen transferred to the propellant charge supply trays 28.1 or 28.2,from where they are supplied to the charge compartment of the weapon W,after the pivoting in, via a propellant charge ram 28.3. As can be seenin FIG. 9, depending upon the shell that is to be made available, adifferent number of propellant charge modules can be supplied. Thus, forexample, the propellant charge supply tray 28.1 contains six propellantcharge modules, while the propellant charge supply tray 28.2 containsonly four propellant charge modules.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of Germanpriority document 102 58 263.7 filed Dec. 13, 2002 and PCT/DE2003/003708filed Nov. 8, 2003.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Since with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10 only a limitedspace is available toward the bottom for the upward movement of the rearportion of the weapon with the propellant charge magazines disposedthereon as well as the propellant charge supply mechanism, in order toensure the full elevational range of the weapon the propellant chargemagazines 27.1 and 27.2 are disposed more in the vicinity of thetrunnion 3. As a result, the propellant charge modules delivered fromthe propellant charge magazines must be supplied to the weapon along aspecial path, which is indicated in FIG. 9. As can be seen, thepropellant charge modules from the propellant charge magazines 27.1 and27.2 are initially conveyed into the apportioning stations 27.11 or27.21 in the direction of the arrow T1. From there, they are transferredto the propellant charge trays 28.1 or 28.2 in the direction of thearrows T2. These trays are then pivoted in behind the weapon in thedirection of the arrows T3, and the propellant charges are then suppliedby the propellant charge ram to the charge chamber of the weapon in thedirection opposite to the arrow T1, namely in the direction of the arrowT4.

The placing together of the propellant charge modules, and possibly theassembly together to form a propellant charge unit, can already becarried out in the apportioning station via a displacement mechanism.This is illustrated in FIG. 9 for the apportioning station 27.21 via thedisplacement mechanism 27.22. The apportioning station 27.11 is equippedin an analogous manner.

In other respects, the firing module of FIGS. 8 to 10 has the sameconfiguration as does the firing module of FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a firing module where on the one hand thepropellant charge magazines are embodied as band magazines 37.1 and 37.2that are fixed on the weapon, and on the other hand a special,star-shaped arrangement of the ammunition magazine 14 exists. Thepropellant charge modules are supplied from the propellant chargemagazines 37.1 and 37.2 to the propellant charge supply trays 38.1 and38.2 via the apportioning stations 37.11 and 37.21, and the supply traysare pivoted inwardly behind the weapon in the manner previouslydescribed, and in particular via the pivot arms 9.1 and 9.2 on which aresecured the propellant charge supply trays 38.1 and 38.2.

The pivoting-in of the propellant charge modules behind the weapon canbe seen from FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the pivot arm 9.1 with the propellantcharge supply tray 38.1 is indicated in both positions, and inparticular in a receiving position in the region of the upper end of thepropellant magazine 37.1, and in a delivery position behind the weaponW. In this connection, the propellant charge supply tray 28.1 moves inthe direction of the arrow S out of the receiving position into thedelivery position. In other respects, the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12has the same construction as does the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.

1. A firing module, comprising: a housing mountable on a carrierstructure so as to be rotatable in azimuth; a heavy weapon mounted insaid housing so as to be pivotable in elevation about a trunnion; ashell supply mechanism that operates fully automatically for supplyingshells to said weapon, wherein said shell supply mechanism is providedwith a shell transfer arm that is pivotably mounted on said trunnion,wherein a shell ram having a loading tray is disposed on a free end ofsaid shell transfer arm, and wherein said shell transfer arm ispivotable between a raised position, in which said loading tray isaligned with a gun bore axis of said weapon, parallel to a plane ofelevation, and a lowered position, in which said loading tray isessentially vertical; a shell transporter having a shell transport arm,on a free end of which is provided a gripping mechanism for grasping arespective shell that is vertically stored in at least one ammunitionmagazine, tip pointing upwardly, and for supplying said shell from saidshell transporter, to said loading tray, in said lowered position ofsaid shell transfer arm, wherein said at least one ammunition magazineand said shell transporter are disposed in said housing in a regionahead of said trunnion, and wherein said loading tray, on said shelltransfer arm, is pivotable about a pivot axis, which in said loweredposition of said shell transfer arm is essentially vertical, by at least180° between a receiving position, which opens to a region ahead of saidtrunnion, and a delivery position, which opens to a region behind saidtrunnion; at least one propellant charge magazine disposed in saidhousing in a region next to or behind said trunnion; and a propellantcharge supply mechanism that operates fully automatically and isdisposed in said housing for supplying propellant charges to saidweapon, wherein said propellant charge supply mechanism is provided witha propellant charge supply tray; having a propellant charge ram, andwherein said propellant charge supply tray is pivotable into a regionbehind said weapon and in alignment with said gun bore axis of saidweapon.
 2. A firing module according to claim 1, wherein said at leastone propellant charge magazine is fixedly disposed on said housing,wherein said propellant charge supply mechanism is provided with atleast one propellant charge transfer arm that is pivotably mounted onsaid trunnion and on a free end of which are disposed said propellantcharge supply tray and said propellant charge ram, and wherein saidpropellant charge transfer arm is pivotable between a receivingposition, in which propellant charges can be supplied to said propellantcharge supply tray, parallel to said plane of elevation, and a deliveryposition, in which said propellant charge supply tray, via a pivot arm,in a plane perpendicular to said gun bore axis of said weapon, ispivotable into a position that is in alignment with said gun bore axisof said weapon.
 3. A firing module according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one propellant charge magazine is secured to said weapon, whereinsaid propellant charge supply mechanism is provided with a propellantcharge supply arm that is pivotable about an axis parallel to said gunbore axis of said weapon and on a free end of which iare disposed saidpropellant charge supply tray and said propellant charge ram, andwherein said propellant charge supply arm is pivotable between areceiving position, in which propellant charges can be supplied to saidpropellant charge supply tray, in a plane perpendicular to said gun boreaxis of said weapon, and a delivery position, in which said propellantcharge supply tray is aligned with said gun bore axis of said weapon. 4.A firing module according to claim 2, wherein said at least onepropellant charge magazine is embodied for receiving propellant chargemodules and is provided with devices for delivering a prescribed numberof said propellant charge modules, which are adapted to be disposed oneafter another in said propellant charge supply tray.
 5. A firing moduledependent on claim 3, wherein said at least one propellant chargemagazine is embodied for receiving propellant charge modules and isprovided with devices for delivering a prescribed number of saidpropellant charge modules, which are adapted to be disposed one afteranother is said propellant charge supply tray.
 6. A firing moduleaccording to claim 1, which includes two propellant charge magazines,and wherein a respective propellant charge supply mechanism isassociated with each propellant charge magazine.
 7. A firing moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one propellant chargemagazine is embodied as a compartment magazine in which propellantcharge modules are disposed one above the other in individualcompartments, and wherein said propellant charge modules are adapted tobe cyclically delivered from each individual compartment.
 8. A firingmodule according to claim 1, wherein said at least one propellant chargemagazine is embodied as a circulating band magazine in which propellantcharge modules are stored on individually circulating bands, and whereinsaid propellant charge modules are adapted to be cyclically deliveredfrom each band.
 9. A firing module according to claim 1, wherein anapportioning station is disposed at each propellant magazine, wherein adesired number of propellant charge modules are delivered into saidapportioning station from said at least one propellant charge magazine,and wherein said propellant charge modules are transferred from saidapportioning station into said propellant charge supply tray.
 10. Afiring module according to claim 9, wherein, with the use of propellantcharge modules that are placed in one another, a placing together ofsaid propellant charge modules is effected is said apportioning station.11. A firing module according to claim 1, wherein said shell supplymechanism and said propellant charge supply mechanism are provided withautomatically controllable drive means and control means that areadapted to be controlled from an operating station disposed externallyof said housing.